4 Effective Truths to Preach to Your Anxious Heart

Have you ever met anyone who doesn't struggle with anxiety?  I am always in awe of a person who doesn't seem to let things worry them, who doesn't suffer with an anxious heart.  A person who just goes with the flow and presses on, seemingly without fear...

However, Jesus knew that we would struggle with fear.  Not only are their noteworthy Bible characters who experienced anxious thoughts, but God's Word addresses worry and anxiety many times.

Anxiety does seem to take on a life of its own, doesn't it?  It's an entity that can overtake you and rule not only your minds, but your hearts as well.  Anxiety is literally something that has to be "talked down" - at least that has been my experience.

I believe that there are 4 Effective Truths you can preach to your anxious heart.

                   Preach the Truth of God's Perfect Love to                         Your Anxious Heart  

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, 

because fear has to do with punishment.

1 John 4:18

There seems to be a misconception often that when we suffer physically, mentally, financially, or emotionally, that we are being punished by God.  I'm sure the father of lies LOVES that!

But there is no more punishment left for those who are in Christ Jesus.  He took your punishment on the cross at Calvary.  Your sins, past, present and future, have been removed as far as the east is from the west.

The definition of punishment reads as follows:

the infliction or imposition of a penalty as retribution for an offense

Jesus paid the penalty for ALL our sins once and for all!

That is not to say that as Believers we won't sustain consequences for some of our actions.

The definition of consequence reads as follows:

a result or effect of an action or condition

If there is something that you have done that was careless, irresponsible or without wisdom, yes, there may be consequences to your health, emotions or finances, BUT there is no fear in consequences.  The Bible has story after story of God's people suffering consequences for their actions, yet God was there to provide, strengthen and patiently redirect.  

He loves you with an everlasting love.  There is no need to be anxious when you have made a mistake.  You can repent and God's love WILL restore you.

Or there may be circumstances in your life that have nothing to do with consequences and everything to do with God ordaining the situation for His perfect will, and your faith building and strengthening. 

There is no need for anxiety to rule because He NEVER intends for you to go through the situation alone.  What He DOES intend is to be right there with you in the fiery furnace to comfort you, to love you, and to bring you safely through in His strength.

When you preach the Truth of God's perfect love to your anxious heart, you will not fear the day, for God will be with you.

               Preach the Truth of the Holy Spirit's Power to                     Your Anxious Heart

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, 

but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

2 Timothy 1:7

This verse has always been such a comfort to me.  As I've shared on this blog many times, I have suffered with anxiety pretty much my whole life. I go through anxious seasons, sometimes without any real rhyme or reason...

This verse reminds me that even though my mind may be turning to anxious thoughts and my body is feeling the live wire of worry zapping through, I can know that the Holy Spirit, who resides within me, is a calm place that still exists no matter how I am feeling on the outside.

When I remember the Holy Spirit's power that is inside of me and the Love that put it there, my mind becomes sound once again as I put my focus on the Holy Spirit who is the provider of ALL Truth which can counter any circumstance that I am feeling anxious about.

When you preach the Truth of the Holy Spirit's power to your anxious heart, you will feel God's presence within and overcome anxious thoughts.

Preach the Truth of God's Salvation to Your Anxious Heart

Say to those who have an anxious heart,

    “Be strong; fear not!

Behold, your God

    will come with vengeance,

with the recompense of God.

    He will come and save you.”

Isaiah 35:4

God's salvation is not just for the day of conversion, it is for every day of your life.

The Lord already won the victory over sin and death.  Satan is just an annoyance now, but he is ALREADY defeated!

Unfortunately, you can allow Satan to annoy you by believing the lies he tries to tell you which create anxiety within.

I don't know about you, but my mind seems to go to the worse case scenario at the slightest provocation.  

Beth Moore once did an exercise during one of her televised Bible studies where she talked about anxiety.  She told her audience to think of the worst thing that could happen and allow their minds to go to the absolute worst possible outcome.  She then told them to ask themselves questions as they envisioned themselves in this worst case scenario about their own survival and the progression of healing.  At the end of the exercise she pointed out that the exercise showed that even when things are the worst they could possibly be, the Lord would bring about healing whether it be emotional, physical or eternal and that they would ultimately survive.

What brings about such profound healing and survival? -- God's salvation.  He will come and save you in ALL circumstances.  That salvation may look different for each case, but He is saving you none-the-less.  

When you preach the Truth of God's Salvation to your anxious heart, there will be no need to fear because God WILL strengthen you and WILL save you.

Preach the Truth of God's Deliverance to Your Anxious Heart

I sought the Lord, and he answered me;

    he delivered me from all my fears.

Psalm 34:4

You might be saying, Karen, isn't Deliverance the same as Salvation.  And I would say, yes it is!  But in this section I wanted to address that deliverance may not always look the way we think it will.

This promise could very easily be taken out of context to mean that we would be delivered from all that we are fearful of.  And as I mentioned in the section above, if that is His will for a situation than He absolutely can save you from the situation that you fear.  

But I saw this verse differently as I read it this go around...  I believe it is saying that when you seek the Lord to deliver you from your fears, you are asking Him to remove fear from your anxious heart. 

And He answers with the following promises...

Be still and know that I am God

Psalm 46:10

Trust in the Lord with all your heart

    and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways submit to him,

    and he will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5-6

The Truth of God's deliverance in this manner, to me, is one of the most powerful Truths to preach to your anxious heart.   It is a definitive blow to fear even in the midst of fear!

When you preach the Truth of God's Deliverance to your anxious heart, you will render fear impotent.

             Preach the Truth that God is ALWAYS with You                 to Your Anxious Heart

Fear not, for I am with you;

Be not dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you,

Yes, I will help you,

I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

Isaiah 41:10

This verse is another one of my favorites that has offered me consolations over and over again.  

Too often we spend our time fixated on that which we are worrying about. Sometimes those fixations aren't even happening yet and actually probably never will!  What is it they say that 85% of what we worry about never comes to pass.  I like those odds, YET I still worry!

And even if what you are worried about does come to pass, there is no need to be dismayed because the God who holds the universe is YOUR God.  If He can hold the universe, He can certainly uphold you and what concerns you!  And not only that, He will indeed help you!  Now that's the kind of help you should not refuse by worrying.

When you preach the Truth of the fact that God is ALWAYS with you to your anxious heart, you will have the calm assurance that the Lord has "got this".

Preach the Truth of Believing God to Your Anxious Heart

Do not let your heart be troubled; 

believe in God, believe also in Me.

John 14:1

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,

And whose hope is the Lord.

For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters,

Which spreads out its roots by the river,

And will not fear when heat comes;

But its leaf will be green,

And will not be anxious in the year of drought,

Nor will cease from yielding fruit.

Jeremiah 17:7-8

Believing God is THE most powerful weapon in your arsenal against anxiety.  

It should be so simple, but sadly, it can be a struggle...

There are approximately 5,467 promises in the Bible which ALL have their yes and amen in Christ Jesus.  Yet those promises are wasted when we spend time in worry and anxiety...

The entire Canon of Scripture speaks of God's great love for us, yet we can struggle with doubts and unbelief... ESPECIALLY when we face trials or afflictions...

The fallen human condition seems to naturally slide back into fear and complaining.  Look at the Israelites when they were in the desert.  Unfortunately, I am no different then they were...

For any of you who have read Pilgrim's Progress, you are familiar with Doubting Castle which for me is the most relatable part of the story...

Giant Despair lived there with his wife Mrs. Diffidence.

Indeed when you doubt God and His perfect plan for your life, your anxious heart can lead you to despair.  When you lack confidence in who you are in Christ Jesus, you are much like Mrs. Diffidence, furthering your doubts about God.

When you believe that you are chosen by God who has a perfect purpose and plan for your life, which He decided before the worlds began, and you accept His eternal love in ALL circumstances for ALL that it promises, you will find yourself deeply rooted in the firm foundation of Believing God upon which you will stand steady, without fear, even when the heat comes...

When you preach the Truth of Believing God to your anxious heart, you will be blessed and filled with hope.

For more posts related to anxiety, please click on the following titles:

God has Compassion on Your Anxious Heart

5 Comforting Scripture Prayers that WILL Give You Peace

3 Reassuring Reasons not to be Anxious About the Future

5 Promises from God When Bad Things Happen

God's Waiting for you in the Fire

The Seventh Year: How to Survive Anxious Moments

My Time in Prison

3 Biblical Ways to Diffuse Your Fear

My hope is that you will find the Biblical Truths I shared above effective for preaching peace to your anxious heart.

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